Page 25 of Sequoia Flames
“Yeah. I was trying to lull him into a false sense of security so he’d let my hands free and then I could run. Hopefully.”
He sighs and shakes his head, leaning his forehead down until he’s pressed into my cheek. “I love you so much, Firefly. I intend to tie your ass down as soon as possible. So no crazy nuts think it’s okay to run away with you. You’re mine for the rest of our lives.”
“Right back atcha,” I giggle, sucking in a breath when pain stabs me right in the ribs again.
“I can’t take you home and make love to you tonight because I imagine we’re gonna be tied up with paperwork and talking to the Sheriff and then we’re going to the hospital so you can get checked out. But as soon as you feel better, I’m claiming what’s mine, Firefly.”
Leaning up to kiss his lips, I chuckle roughly. “I sure as hell hope so. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever.”
“Me too. Me. Too.”
Resting against him and listening to his heartbeat under my ear, I lean into his warmth and close my eyes, happier than I think I’ve ever been.
I have finally found the safe place where I belong and I know damn well that this man will never let me get away.
And that’s exactly what I want. Forever.
EPILOGUE
LASSITER
“Dammit, I’m fine, Lassiter! Will you please listen to me?”
Shaking my head, I eye the beautiful blonde glaring at me like an angry blue-eyed kitten.
“I don’t care what you think. I’m not touching you until the doctor says you’re good.”
Pulling herself up to her full five foot and a couple of inches, she glares at me with her hands on her full hips. “I know my body better than a damn doctor. I know damn well what I can handle.”
“I’m not touching you until they say you’re good. I couldn’t bear it if you ended up like poor Fred.”
“Fred was killed by a knife to the chest.” She stops and sinks a little bit. “Have his parents picked him up yet?”
“Yeah. The other day. They seemed like really nice people.” Sighing, I stand up and pace. “They couldn’t understand what happened with Alex.”
“I don’t think anybody understands that,” Verity mutters under her breath.
“I think we’re all thinking that. But he’s really messed up. Have you seen the picture of his mom in the paper. She looks just like you.”
“Yeah.” She shudders and moves into my arms, burying her head in my chest. “That is sick as hell. He thought he wanted to marry me and have sex with me because I looked like his mom? What the hell?”
“The psychologist thinks that he never mourned his mom like he should have because his dad smacked him around every time he cried for her. So he just pushed it down and when he saw you, he pushed those feelings into some kind of twisted love. He thought that meant that you were meant to be his.”
“Hmmmph!” She huffs. “I don’t care how you put it. It’s sick. I know that his mom died in a home invasion but nobody was ever convicted of it. So there’s all these feelings roiling around in there from the time he was fifteen or so. But still…”
“Yeah, he’s got a few screws loose that’s for sure.”
She lifts her head and her bottom lip pouts out until she runs her tongue across it, slicking her pink fullness. “I don’t care about any of that. I care about us. I need you. I’ve been waiting for two weeks. I need you, Lassie.”
“You can wait.” But I’m losing ground, my dick jerking in my jeans until I know that she can feel the thick length pressing into her. I can feel her lush curves pressed against me and the sweet honeysuckle and peach scent of her makes my head swim.
“I don’t want to wait! I need you, Lassiter. Right now. Right here. And if you don’t just give in and make love to me I swear to god I’m gonna walk out that door!”
Growling under my breath, I lift her high and slam my lips down on hers. “You’re not getting away from me, Firefly. You’re mine. Forever until the end of time.” My mouth devours hers and her soft moan of happiness as she opens her sweet lips and sends me right the hell to heaven.
Her tongue slicks along mine, twining wildly until I groan and turn to find the bedroom. We slam into a wall and her legs crawl up until she wraps them around my hips while she clings to me like cling wrap. Her arms twine into my hair and tug at it and it’s like setting off a bomb. Walls tumble down and explosions of hunger and need slam into my body and I turn her until she’s pressed to the wall. I can feel the hot core of her pressing into my belly and my head swims even as my hands run up and down her sides, tugging and pulling at her t-shirt until I pull it over her head and whip it across the room, her glorious curls flying around us like a golden halo of light. I lift my head and my breath catches in my chest.
Her golden hair lying on her pale shoulders and the sleepy, slumberous desire darkening her deep blue gaze steals what’s left of my heart.
